One of the Jets’ options at tight end came off the board on Friday.
Tyler Conklin, who spent the past three years with the Jets, signed a one-year contract with the Chargers, the team announced.
Conklin was the top tight end on the Jets after coming to the team as a free agent in 2022.
He had 170 receptions and seven touchdowns in three years.
Last season, Conklin had 51 catches for 449 yards and four touchdowns.
The departure of Conklin accentuates the hole the Jets currently have at tight end.
There was a thought that they would bring Conklin back because of how thin they remain at the position.
At the moment, the team has Jeremy Ruckert, Stone Smartt, Zack Kuntz and Neal Johnson at tight end.
They have a combined 66 career catches and one touchdown.
That has led to speculation the Jets could use the No. 7 overall pick on Penn State’s Tyler Warren, the top-rated tight end in the Draft.
Selecting Warren at No. 7 would make him the highest-drafted tight end since 2021, when the Atlanta Falcons took Kyle Pitts at No. 4 overall.
The Jets signed Conklin to a three-year, $20.3 million contract in 2022 as a free agent from the Vikings.
He goes down as one of the better free agent signings of former GM Joe Douglas.
